Why you shouldn't wear white after labor day.

Labor Day was originally started in 1882 as a way to celebrate American workers contributions and achievements in improving socioeconomics. Most Americans typically celebrate with a small family vacation or camping trip, but more and more are staying home to take advantage of local festivities. In Peoria, we are celebrating our 50th year of the Labor Day Picnic and Parade down by the riverfront. So what are some things you can incorporate into your family's Labor Day festivities??? How about a Neighborhood field day to get the kids out in sun complete with fun contests, goofy crafts, and nifty snacks?

The contest, crafts, and snacks are the reason you shouldn't wear white because let's face it... Kid's are MESSY! Wearing white is just setting you up for stain removal if you're going to do some heavy celebrating this weekend and there are kids involved.

So let me introduce some fun contests and crafts (indoors and outdoors since Hurricane Isaac isn't being too forgiving) from Family Fun's August 2012 Issue.

Water Balloon Fight
Fill up a kiddy pool or bucket with a few inches of water to cushion water balloons and keep them from sticking together. Then fill those water balloons up and dump them in. Team up and hold a water balloon fight for a splashing time.

Recolorize your flip flops
Rather than throwing out those popped or left over water balloons from the water balloon fight, recycle them into a cool craft for the kids. Tie them to flip flops for colorful and a new take on fashion.

Paint some rocks
Let's face it kid's love to paint and be creative. So why not put some paint on an upside down frisbee and let them design some rocks for the garden path or walkway? Then just rinse the fisbees off and voila another instant game!!

Design your own sprinkler
Transform a 2 Liter bottle with a 3/4 inch female to 3/4 inch female adapter and a rubber hose washer into a homemade sprinkler. Just poke some holes in the 2 Liter and widen them with a bamboo skewer and then hook it up to the hose. Then turn on the fun!

Squirt Gun Floaters
Have kids hold a small cup with a ping pong ball inside. Arm each child with a squirt gun and a bucket full of water and hold a contest to see who can spray enough water into float the ball out of someone's cup.

Wet and Wild Jump Rope
Have a contest where each child gets a cup of water and a turn at jumping rope and see who can keep the most water in the cup after 5 jumps.

Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Bites
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, spoon small dollups of yogurt into drops, and place a raspberry or piece of fruit on top. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes, and then serve for a cooling treat.

Shake it all up Slushy
Use a blender to combine 5 1/2 cups ice, 2/3 cup cream of coconut, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, and 1/4 cup water. Serve it up with little umbrellas for a taste of the tropics.

Have a blast this Labor Day Weekend and remember to get out of the house to enjoy the weather, hike a trail, host a picnic, or a neighborhood field day!!